Five months later: The little console that could

[Emperor Pan I]

Lets talk business right now. For the most part since the release of the Nintendo 64 Nintendo had carved out itself a niche of gaming whereby it sold pretty much on brand name and first party franchises. Financialy Nintendo did well enoug pricing it's systems at profit making prices, and selling just enough handheld gameboys to make themselves get by. By no means have they really been successful in consoles since the NES released in '83.

That was until five months ago. By all rights the Nintendo Gamecube sold 21 million units in five years. Pretty good when one compares it to the Xbox system which itself sold around 24 million. In a solid five months the Nintendo wii has sold in excess 7.26 million units, a good 35% of the Gamecube sales, in only five months. In April last month, Americans bought 360,000 Wii consoles in April compared to 82,000 PS3s and 174,000 of Microsoft Xbox 360’s.
Comparable to the video game juggernaut Nintendo seems to becoming (again) is the success of the DS which has sold an impressive 40+ million units. Infact the Wii and DS are responsible for an increase of 77 percent in the latest fiscal year.

So whether you hate consoles, own rival consoles, or generally despise Nintendo, there is inevitably comes the realization, Nintendo right now is kicking ass.

So got a Wii/DS? Post about how you love/hate it. Is it as good as everyone seems to say it is? Do you think it deserves the popularity it has received?

post and tell us.

 

[concrete_sox]

the wii looks so cool

 

[Vadriel]

I'm personally not impressed with the DS concept, nor am I with the Wii concept. I haven't seen much regarding the DS, but it just looked confusing to me with two screens to watch at once...I don't know, maybe I just don't understand how it works (I've never seen anyone play one).

The Wii to me seems like a shameless gimmick. The "intriguing and innovative" controller looks absolutely retarded...in my opinion it makes every game into Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution, two games which I completely loathe. I'm a fan of oldskool gaming, where you have a basic controller and the most movement you do is rocking back and forth as you get engrossed into onscreen events. It's one reason I'm a little resistant to utilizing the PS3's Sixaxis...I move and sway as a natural part of regular gameplay, and if that movement actually affected my in-game responses, I'd absolutely hate it. The Wii is no different to me.

Perhaps I'm just giving it a bad rap, and by no means have I any real experience with it, but to me the Wii looks absolutely useless, and the people who play it like blubbering idiots. My apologies, but swinging your arm around in the air or "invisible reeling" just seems stupid, and makes you look that way when you do it.

Now, I will give the Wii this: the games I compared it to, Guitar Hero and DDR, are outstandingly popular...I just don't happen to like them personally. Other people like that sort of thing quite a bit, so Wii's capitalization on "active gameplay" is probably an incredibly smart move. This sort of thing is definitely on the rise, and it's probably why the Wii is so insanely popular. It's just the sort of thing that means I will personally refuse to ever play it, but then again they're not after MY participation. I'm only one person, and there are millions of other people who love this sort of thing, and are buying the console.

I say go Nintendo. Good job with filling a demand with the Wii...it's not my personal choice of gaming style, but it's striking a chord with a lot of people and bringing back Nintendo to the gaming race...indeed, even to the front of the gaming race. Those Asian dudes may look ridiculous waving their arms around at a screen, but they sure are getting rich doing it, so I say good job.

 

[Andrew]

I got a Wii. I don't have any more games to play since I beat Zelda, but when another game comes out that interests me, I will most certainly play it. I love the system. It's great. I love the controls and how interactive it is compared to the other systems. I would gladly get a PS3, however, but it costs so much. Nonetheless, the Wii is a great success, and I am glad I have one.

 

[SpAwNtHeKiLlEr]

I think Nintendo is awesome, I still have my N64 and we used to have the Super Nintendo. I just don't think its graphics on a regular T.V. can compare to the PS3's or XBOX 360. But I had some ****ing fun in EB Games when I played the Wii there. The DS is awesome, but I got a PSP instead! I should soon be getting a DS, I know these people who download illegal games, but they are nerds.

 

[Emperor Pan I]

The Wii to me seems like a shameless gimmick. The "intriguing and innovative" controller looks absolutely retarded...in my opinion it makes every game into Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution, two games which I completely loathe. I'm a fan of oldskool gaming, where you have a basic controller and the most movement you do is rocking back and forth as you get engrossed into onscreen events. It's one reason I'm a little resistant to utilizing the PS3's Sixaxis...I move and sway as a natural part of regular gameplay, and if that movement actually affected my in-game responses, I'd absolutely hate it. The Wii is no different to me.

Perhaps I'm just giving it a bad rap, and by no means have I any real experience with it, but to me the Wii looks absolutely useless, and the people who play it like blubbering idiots. My apologies, but swinging your arm around in the air or "invisible reeling" just seems stupid, and makes you look that way when you do it.

Now, I will give the Wii this: the games I compared it to, Guitar Hero and DDR, are outstandingly popular...I just don't happen to like them personally. Other people like that sort of thing quite a bit, so Wii's capitalization on "active gameplay" is probably an incredibly smart move. This sort of thing is definitely on the rise, and it's probably why the Wii is so insanely popular. It's just the sort of thing that means I will personally refuse to ever play it, but then again they're not after MY participation. I'm only one person, and there are millions of other people who love this sort of thing, and are buying the console.

Gimmicky can be used to describe *many third party wii games, which were rushed for motion controls. But when you play some more solid games with good motion controls, you think to yourself why didn't they do this before. But really, try it. And don't pick it up and play for like 3 minutes and throw it down and say it sucks. Play with a few people for 20 minutes. trust me it is fun.

 

[Guest]

The constant use for motion control (in Zelda to kill monsters) can get irritating.

 

[Vadriel]

Gimmicky can be used to describe *many third party wii games, which were rushed for motion controls. But when you play some more solid games with good motion controls, you think to yourself why didn't they do this before. But really, try it. And don't pick it up and play for like 3 minutes and throw it down and say it sucks. Play with a few people for 20 minutes. trust me it is fun.

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Just like the sixaxis will probably annoying for games that don't implement it well, and will probably freaking own in like flight simulators and stuff.

Honestly, I won't be buying a Wii and I know nobody who has one...so I probably won't be "enjoying" that particular experience anytime soon. I'll stick to playing our PS2 games on our PS3 on a 70inch plasma TV with surround sound. ^_^

Is it just me, or does the selection of PS3 games available right now just blow donkey nuts? I can't find anything that interests me...

 

[SpAwNtHeKiLlEr]

XBOX 360 is still far better than both of these systems.

 

[Hitsua]

I love my DS. I got a Supercard so now I can play SNES, NES, GBC, etc etc on my DS with no cost Also can play music, watch videos etc.

 

[Andrew]

I never wanted a DS. =\ Two screens was just too confusing.

 

[Hitsua]

You hardly ever use both at the same time...one might be open but only one is active. It's better than switching from map to map, too. Though, I suppose nothing on the PSP actually requires thought, so maps aren't needed.

 

[Emperor Pan I]

who gets confused when you only use one screen at a time. That is a lame excuse.

 

[Andrew]

I didn't mean it confuses me, it just makes me not want to play it. I have a PSP anyways. :O

 

[Renzokuken]

I hate PSP's. Give me a DS any day.

 

[Arkillo]

My Wii sit's next to my PS3 collecting dust upon dust upon dust.

Maybe if a good ****ing game comes out for it I'll unshelf it, but eh.

 

[Renzokuken]

Wii is more fun with friends. Or a friend. Yeah one's enough.

 

[Vadriel]

My Wii sit's next to my PS3 collecting dust upon dust upon dust.

Maybe if a good ****ing game comes out for it I'll unshelf it, but eh.

I hear you on the PS3. All we use ours for is BluRay.

I'm just waiting for DMC4.

 

[Emperor Pan I]

I'll be playing DMC4 on my cheaper awesome 360 now that Capcom made it multiplatformer.

 

[Guest]

All the ****ing games for PS3 are being ported. Only reason to buy PS3 equals Metal Gear Solid 4.